Safety interlocked ticket receiving and checking machine



Sept. 23, 1952 M. H. LONDON 2,611,535

SAFETY INTERLOCKED TICKET RECEIVING AND CHECKING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

BY MM lab Mu M. H. LONDON Sept. 23, 1952 SAFETY INTERLOCKED TICKET RECEIVING AND CHECKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1948 INVENTOR. BY M Sept. 23, 1952 M. H. LONDON SAFETY INTERL OCKED TICKET RECEIVING AND CHECKING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. u. M

W BY Sept. 23, 1952 M. H. LONDON SAFETY INTERLOCKED TICKET RECEIVING AND CHECKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 23, 1948 rag.

P 1952 M. H. LONDON 2,611,535

SAFETY INTERLOCKED TICKET RECEIVING AND CHECKING MACHINE E f-i LIKE-CR7 5.- EW i I22. 85 s a H i i KR I24 4 78 5 n2 4- H, 50 HRH, la 7 n l SWW/Ai 7 +-|I 1H s L -J Fig: 10

fi 0 3 Fig: 12

Z I H0 fl (08 g INVENTOR.

BY W

10M%m W T Sepi. 23, 1952 M. H. LONDON SAFETY INTERLOCKED TICKET RECEIVING AND CHECKING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

1, BY WV M Patented Sept. 23 1 952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY INTERLOCKED TICKET RECEIVING AND CHECKING MACHINE Milton H. London, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 23, 1948, Serial No. 34,738

V 9 Claims. '1

This application relates to ticket receiving machines and more particularly .to-ma'chines useful in motion picture theaters and the like for receiving admission tickets. The machine may be operated to receive' tickets and to stack and count received tickets or severed halves of tickets.

'A. principal object of the invention is to provide a ticket receiving machine having certain novel characteristics and features, for an understanding or which reference should be had to the following. detailed description-and to the accompanying drawings.

' In these drawings:

Fig." 1 is an outside 'view oithe machine.

Fig.2 is'asection-as if unlined- 2. ofFig 1, showing' the interior of the-machine,..as if the casing were removed.

. Fig.'i3' is a transverse section of. the machine as a whole,v somewhat asif onlline' 3 3.01 Fig. 2, but with the casing shown.

Fig. 4' is an exploded v'iewof a. ticket-severing and a severed half moving means, somewhat as if in the direction of the arrow 4 of FigI 3.

Fig." 5 is a rear view ofia ticket moving ram at the lower part of'Fig. 4-somewhat as if in thedirection of the arrow'5 ofFigwi.

Fig.6 is an enlarged viewinsection showing a switch arm adapted to be moved-for switch closing by the insertion of .a ticket.

Figf'l is a transverse section view asif-on line 1 -1? or Fig. 3. H

Fig.8 .is a view as if' in the 'directionoi the arrow. 8 of Fig. 3 and as if .in section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig." 9' is a fragmentary View as if inthe direction'of thearrow 9 of'Fig. 3.

Fig; 10' is a fragmentaryv section view as if in the direction of the arrow II) of Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 isa view asiion line II--I lof Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is asection view--as it on line I2--I2 of Fig. '2.

" Fig. 13 is a wiring diagram.

Fig. 14lis anexploded view of a ticket receiving slot orguide, a knife and a ram, anda-tube for receiving severed halves oftickets.

"Fig. 15 isanexploded viewshowing the connecting means between theram and a counter. "Fig. l6fiis a. partial section view on line I6-I6 of Fig. 3.

'Referring to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 1, it-wi'll be observed that the machine I 0 has'projecting thru its right sidewall I I a ticket receiving guideor mouth piece l2 aligned'with a slot I 4 (Fig. 3) of thecasing of the machine, into whichguide a ticket I6 may be inserted, as shown in Fig. 14. Bars I8 on wall H. are provided for centering aticket towards the ticket guide I2. "Below the. guide I2 is-a-stub receptaclefill intowhich the theater usher who is operating the machinedrops tickethalves-not;

isan operating handle 26 which forms theiii'a'in,

control handle for the machine. V I

On the back wall 28 of the box 'III is a'hirigd and locked door' 30 giving access' to 'theinte'rior of the'casing and above which is a signal light or button 32.

Electric current for operating the'inachinemay be obtained from a-suitable supply line to which connection may beest'ablishdby the cord and cap 34.

Within the box or casing is the machine proper.

The latter includes four corner postsss, Fig.2,

which together with cross members 38,'-40,'42,.

44 and 46 form the frame of the machine. Guide I2 is mounted on and above cross pieoe42' to project thru slot I4 of wall II. Counter is mounted on a support block on cross'memb'er 40.

Theupper cross member 38 'inounts'a solehold 55 in which vertically'moves a plunger 52 connected at its lower end to a-slide 54, Fig.--4,'

formed to slide 'in'ways of a guide" 56 mounted on the cross member-4t. To a pin 58 on-slide54 and to a pin'iifl on the frame or a solenoid-59' are connected the ends of a coil spring '52 which returns the slide 54 to its upper most position.

after the slide has been moved. downward by the energization of the solenoid and downward movement of the plunger52 and slide 54. Fastened to" the lower end of slide 54 is a knife and ram unit 64 whoseedge E6 is a knife-edge and whose lower surface is adapted to-push-ticket halves severed by the knife-edge 66 downwardly into a ticket receiver or tube 68- positioned immediately below the ram 64 and having its-upper endnormally open when in place-for receiving severed ticket halves.

' The tube 68 is of square crosssectionclosely;

corresponding to the shape of thesevered ticket halves and is of considerable length, and is seated in cut-outs 72 of horizontal flanges 14 ofthe cross members 42-44, being held therein by the swinging lock bars I5, Fig. 9.

Within the tube 68' is a sliding bottomor iob lower block i8 (Fig. 10) having ball checks or. detents SD biased outwardly by a spring 82 -and adapted to be moved downby the stack of ticket halves pushed down into-the tube 'by the ram -64 (Fig. 3). Lugs 83 at the top of thetube68 -(Fig.- 10) .prevent outward movement of block 18 and restrain but do not totally prevent outward movement of ticket halves from tube 68.

The lower end 84 of the tube68, as shown in Fig. 10, is. normally closed but has an opening 86 for receiving a plunger 88 fastened to and projecting upwardly from a switch arm 00, Fig. 2, of a normally open switch 64 connected in circuit with signal lamp 32, as shown in Fig. 13, wherebydownward movement of the follower block I8 to the point where it engages the plunger 88 will close switch 94, by moving arm 90 downwardly and thus close the circuit to the signal lamp 32, to indicate to the user of the machine that the tube 68 is almost completely full of ticket halves, as indicated by the fact that the follower block I8 has" moved down to a point near the-lower end 84 of the tube 68.

Below switch arm 60 controlling the signal light 32,.Fig. 2. is a second switch arm 96 for operating a normally closed switch 66 which is one of three series switches for the circuit for the solenoid 50, as shown in Fig. 13, whereby switch 68 will be opened to deenergize'the solenoid 50 when the follower block I8 in tube 68 has reached its lowermost position to engage plunger 88 and move it tothe point where it causes opening movement of arm 96 of switch 98, thus indicating that the follower block is in its lower-most position, and rendering the solenoid 50 inoperative. This is in response to the fact that the tube 68 is loaded to maximum capacity with severed ticket halves pushed down into the tube at its upper end by the ram 64 slidably connected to the solenoid plunger 52 and having thereon the knife edge 66 for severing the tickets inserted into the ticket guide I2 of Fig. 1.

.The upper end of the tube 68 is normally open during the use of the machine. However, it is provided with a slidable closure plate I02 on whose lower surface are formed rack teeth I04 for engagement with the teeth I06 of a gear formed around a lock barrel I 08 rotatably mounted in an enlarged portion III! of the tube 68 and positioned to one side of the main portion of such tube.

The lock barrel I08 has a key receiving slot I I2 for receiving a key I I4, Fig. 7, journalled but nonremovably mounted in the cross member 42, and having its head II5 formed to project thru an opening of the casing wall II, so that it may be provided with a handle which serves as the operating handle 26, Fig. 1, of the machine. Rotation of the key I I4 by its handle 26 causes'rotation of the lock barrel I08 in turn to cause sliding move-' ment of-the tube closure I02, the latter having a stop II6 for limiting its lateral travel. Stop II! on tube enlargement IIO limits rotation of lock barrel I08.

When the closure is in its closed position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 10, the lock barrel slot H2 is in registry with the key II4 to permit the tube 68 to be mounted on and placed in the cross members 42 and 44 of the machine, with the lock barrel I08receiving the key H4, and this insures against mounting the tube 66 except when itsv closure I02 is in tube closing position. Likewise, because the key I I4 and its lock barrel I08 are formed to be non-separable except when the lock barrel is in the full line position shown in Fig. 10, removal of the tube 68 from the machine is not permitted except when the closurel02 is in tube closing or blocking position.

However, after the tube 68 has been mounted in the machine with its closure I02 in tube closing position, that is with lock barrel I08 receiving key tube.

H4, the exposed handle 26 of the latter may be rotated clockwise, Fig. 10, to cause closure I02 to move to the dotted line or open-position,--Fig. 10, to open the' tube168 andlals'o to engage. a switch arm B22 of a normally open switch I24, for clos- 7 ing the latter and thus closing the circuit for solenoid 50, Fig. 13, at a second of the three points of opening-of that circuit, as indicated in Fig, 13. Thus it will be seen that the solenoid circuit is not closed when there is no authorized tube 68 properly mounted in a machine and opened for receiving severed ticket halves.

Disposed in line with ticket guide I2, Fig. 3, so as to be engaged by the leading end of a ticket I6 inserted into the machine through that guide is a fourth switch arm I30 for controlling a normally open switch I32, Fig. 2, which is the third of the three switches in series with the solenoid 50 in the solenoid circuit, as shown in Fig. 13.

When the first of the three switches 06 is closed, as it normally is, and when the second of the three switches I24 is closed, as by the insertion of a tube 68 in the machine and the movement of tube closure 502 to tube open position, Fig. 10, then the closing of the third switch I32 by the engagement of the ticket end with the switch arm I30 will energize the circuit for solenoid 50 and cause downward movement rapidly and suddenly of the armature 52, the slide 54 and the ram 64 with its cutting edge 66, whereby the ticket I6 that caused the closing of switch I32 will be severed by the knife edge 66 and where upon continued downward movement. of the plunger 52 and slide 54 and ram 64 will push the severed ticket half down into the tube 68 through its open upper end. Shortly but not immediately thereafter, the switch I32 will open because the closing force on its arm I30 obtained by the pressure of the ticket on that arm I30 will no longer exist, because of the severing of the ticket, and the solenoid circuit will be open at switch I32 to deenergize the solenoid 56, whereupon spring 62 will return the plunger 52, slide 54 and ram 64 to the uppermost position ready for repeated operations upon repeated insertion of tickets I6 into the receiver I2.

The speed of ram 64 on advance is greater than the gravity speed of a severed tickets fluttering down to the tube and hence ram 64 holds the ticket until the latter is added to the stack in the This accurately positions the ticket with respect to the stack and the closely dimensioned tube, since the ram pushes the ticket down into the tube. V

Inasmuch as it is necessary for the solenoid circuit switch I32 to remain closed for a moment after the ticket has been severed by the knife edge 66, in order that the ram 64 move downwardly and push the severed ticket half down into the tube 68, a cam I34, Fig. 5, is provided on the ram 64 to maintain the arm I 30 in position to close switch I32 during full downward travel of the ram 64 past the point where knife edge 66 has severed the ticket. When the upper edge of cam I34 travels past arm I30, however, it no longer maintains arm I30 in position to close switch I32 and that arm will return, due to its resiliency, to switch open position to deenergize the solenoid circuit. The ram 64 will move upwardly, with arm I30 now occupying a position between the cam I34 and the back plate I36 of the ram 64 during the upward stroke of that ram.

Fig. 6 illustrates the construction of the arm to have lips or edges I38 toinsure the ticket end remaining in engagement with the arm I30 and.

not deflecting and slldingcfl thatarmwithout causing ticketseverance.

Fig. 6 also illustratesa stop I42 for limiting closing movement of the arm I30 and preventing excessive bending of that arm and injury to it .and to its switch I32 by insertion into the ticket receiver of foreign objects or unauthorized tickets.

The backstop I42 of Fig. 6 also operates to prevent insertion of tickets beyond the halfway mark, assuming that authorized tickets areibeing inserted, and thus prevents severed halves of greater than proper size tobe out off and to bepushed down into, the tube 68. which is dimensioned to fit rather closely the ticket halves ofauthorized and proper size.

Fig. illustrates a mechanical connection between ram 54 and counter 24 mounted on .cross member 40, established through the links and springs indicated generally at I44whereby each downward stroke of the ram .64 and thus each ticket severance :is-recorded on the counter 24 whose totals may be read through the window 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 illustrates the'details. of construction of the ticket guide referenced generally at I2 in Fig. 1. The guide includes'a base plate l52mounted oncross member-.42 and projecting through an opening I4 in the casing or box wall I I. The base plate is vformed with ways or guides I52 whereby aticket may be inserted and guided conveniently under an arched retainer I54 for the tickets, and the base plate I52 is formedv'vith afinger notch I56 whereby the operator may conveniently hold the ticket after he has inserted half of it into the machine for severance and for= movement into the tube 68.

The-tube 68 has" at least one and preferably allot its sides of transparent material whereby a stack of tickets therein may be viewed for inspection without. being removed from the tube, but being held therein by the closure plate I02 which must be in tube closing position'when the tube is-removed fromthe machine. However, when'the tube is in the machine and closure plate I02 is in open position, a stack of ticketswithin the tubeis held against accidental movement out of the upper or open end of the tube by decompression, byspring lugs 83 in the upper end of the tube. a

A stackof ticketsrmay be removed from a tube when .the tube is out of the machine, first by opening the closureplate I02,:as by possession and use of an authorized key for cooperation with the lockbarrel I08, and secondly, by insertion of astack removal rod into the tube through the plunger receiving-opening 86 in the tube lower end 84, the leadingend-of such rod engaging a socket I58 of follower'block I8 to push it upwardly in the tube-and thus expel thestack of tickets from-the. tube through its upper end. Spring lugs 83do-not-preventsuch removal of the stack from the tube, since they are'weak' enough to be overcome by thewmanualpushing force on the stack removal rod.

The use of the machine When the machine is to:-be used it is connected to a suppl line for electricity by the plugging in of the cord c ap 34, Fig.1. The, door. 30, is opened and if there is no tube68 in place in the. machine then; a tube 68, whichat that time has its upper endclosed; and locked, is mounted in the machine andv clamped: therein by .theswing clamps I6 and with the,lower endof vthe tube receivin the plunger 88 'for;.controlling switches 94:- and.

Switch 94 is normally open and thus is open at that time, so that signal light 32 is not energized. Switch Se'is normally closed and remains closed at this time. If the tube 58 is an authorized'tube and is properly located and adjusted, slot I I2 of its lock barrel I 88 will receive key I I4 which'then can be rotated by handle 26 to open the tube by sliding cover plate I02 to the right, Fig. 10, and at the same time to close the normallyopen switch I24.

The parts are still not electrically energized, but when a ticket I6 is inserted into the guide I2 so that its leading end engages switch arm I30 to close-switch I32, solenoid 50 will be energized to cause the ram 94 to move downwardly; first to sever the ticket, leaving astub inthefingers of the operator who may then return it to the patron or drop the stub into the receptacle 20 of Fig. l, and then to push the severed half within the machine down into the tube 68 past the lugs or ridges 83 which prevent tickets within the tube from moving outwardly and upwardly by decompression. When the ram 64 completes its downward stroke, it relieves the pressure on switch arm i351 and permits that arm to move to the position where it opens switch i32, thus deenergizing'the solenoid and permitting the ram to be moved upwardly by the ram return spring B2,and the machine is again deenergized untilv another ticket is inserted. I

When enough tickets have been inserted into the'machine so that the severed ticket halves form a stack of required length in the tube 6.8. follower block 18 will be moved downwardly to engage plunger Siiand cause switch 94 whichv is normally open to close and energize the warning signal lamp 32 to indicate that the tube is almost full and should be removed and replaced by an empty tube.

In the event this is not done and more ticket halves are thrust down into the tube sufficient to move the follower block I8 further down into the tube, arm 96 will be moved downwardly to open switch 98 and render the solenoid circuit inoperative so that further ticket insertions will not cause ticket severance, with possible injury to the.

tube'because of overcrowding and ram action on acompressed stack of tickets excessivein number or thickness and stack height.

When a tube is to be removed, it is necessary first to rotate handle 25 to permit lock barrel Hi8 to slide on the key lie and this can occur only when accompanied by closing movement of the tube closure I02 and by opening of the switch I24 by the relieving of the pressure on arm I22 from tube closure E02. With the tube closed and its closure locked, the tube can be removed from the machine and replaced by an empty tube.

When a full tube is to be emptied, it is necessary to unlock and open it by the use of an authorized key fitting the lock barrel I08, after which a rod may be inserted into the tube through opening 86 to push the follower block "I8 towards the open upper end of the tube and to expel the stack of tickets from the tube.

The warning signal light 32 is energized only when the tube is inplace and almost completely full of ticket halves.

The counter counts only severances and movements of tickets to the receiver E8 and does not count ticket insertions, and only when thevarious conditions of normal operation are'properly satisfied (tube insertion-tube opening-ticket insertion, ticket severance, and movement), will the counter operate to count.

Some important features It may be noted that numerous inter-locks for operation of the machine have been provided, with the following results; Every inserted ticket is severed to comply with legal requirements to this efiect. Every ticket severance is counted but only severances are counted. Every ticket severance results in a half ticket being pushed down into the tube. The tube cannot be inserted or removed unless its closure is locked in tube closing position. The machine is inoperative except when an authorized tube is in place and is properly opened. Tickets cannot be removed from the tube except by opening the tube cover or closure with an authorized key.

, It will be observed that. the ticket halves are not destroyed but are collected in a neat and easily viewable and identifiable "stack in a locked container or tube; the tickets are available for counting and examination to detect mischief and theft, with each ticket severance'being counted so' as to enable checking the number of ticket destructions reported by the counter with the number and type of ticket halves stacked in the tube, and with the number of tickets reported as sold, to detect the use of spurious and out-of-order tickets.

The provision of key 4 M on the casingand lock I08 for the tube closure, and key lock for door 39. are effective to prevent the use of unauthorized tubes, to prevent unauthorized removal of a tube or a stack of tickets from the receiver, unauthorized opening of a tube, and unauthorized collection or destruction of ticket halves.

It may also be noted that the ticket severing means cannot be operated when the tube is full of severed halves, due to the opening of switch 98, or when the tube is not open to receive ticket halves, whereby injury to parts is inhibited.

Likewise operation of the knife and ram except when a tube is in place to receive ticket halves is also inhibited.

It will also be observed that the tube may neither be inserted into nor removed from the machine except when it is locked closed by cooperation by the authorized key permanently and nonremovably mounted in the machine. Locking the tube in the machine under the severing means, simultaneously sets up the circuit for the severing means or solenoid 50 so as to be operable by insertion of a ticket.

The single lock provided by the key I I 4 and the barrel I08 simultaneously locks the tube in the casing under the knife 86, opens the tube, and closes the switch which controls the circuit for the solenoid 50. Similarly, simultaneous operation of the lock in the reverse direction will deactivate the circuit for the solenoid 50, will release the tube from the machine, and will lock the tube so as to prevent the ticket halves from being removed from the tube.

It will also be observed that the tube may be mounted in position only when its lock barrel is movable onto the key H4. This can occur only when the tube is closed and locked. Likewise, the cooperation of the key and the lock barrel insure that the tube may be removed from the machine only when it is closed and locked.

It will also be observed that the cam I34 on the ram insures the solenoid circuit remaining closed for continued ram operation, even after the ticket has been severed. It will also be observed that the provision of switch 98 insures against ticket severance when there is a stack of greater height in the tube than is proper and desired, the length of the stack determining the opening of the solenoid circuit at the switch 98 to render the solenoid inactive and the ticket severing knife 66 inoperative for severing.

Now having described the ticket receiving machine herein disclosed, reference should be had to the claims which follow for a determination of the inventions hereof.

I claim:

1. In a ticket collecting and stacking machine comprising a casing having a ticket receiving opening, means inside the casing for receiving tickets inserted through said opening in superimposed relation and arranged to form of them a vertical stack, means within the casing for mov ing inserted tickets to and into cooperative stacking relation with the receiver and thus to form in the receiver a vertical stack of superimposed tickets and releasable means for blocking the receiver and thus locking the stack to the receiver, thus to prevent unauthorized removal of a stack from the receiver, said blocking means being a part of and unitary with the receiver so as to be removable from and insertable into the casing only as part of the receiver as a whole, and releasable key means movably mounted in the casing and externally accessible for actuation and associated with the blocking means and operable for simultaneously looking a properly mounted and authorized receiver in place under the ticket moving means and for moving the blocking means from receiver blocking position and also operable for simultaneously releasing the receiver for removal thereof from the casing and moving the blocking means to receiver blocking position.

2. In a ticket collecting and stacking machine comprising -a casing having a ticket receiving opening, means inside the casing for receiving tickets inserted through said opening in superimposed relation and arranged to form of them a vertical stack, means within the casing for moving inserted tickets to and into cooperative stacking relation with the receiver and thus to form in the receiver a vertical stack of superimposed tickets and releasable means for blocking the re-' ceiver and thus locking the stack to the receiver, thus to prevent unauthorized removal of a stack from the receiver, and releasable means 1or mounting and looking a properly mounted and authorized receiver in place under the ticket moving means, and interlocking means preventing the release of the means for mounting and locking the receiver in place unless accompanied by the blocking of the receiver and thus the locking ofthe stack to the receiver, and interlocking means for preventing the release of the. receiver blocking means unless preceded by the proper mounting and locking in place of the authorized receiver in the casing, and interlocking means for preventing ticket moving operation of the ticket moving means unless preceded by the proper mounting and locking in place of an authorized receiver, and the release of the blocking means of such receiver.

3. In a ticket collecting and stacking machine comprising a. casing having a ticket receiving opening, means inside the casing for receiving tickets inserted through said opening in superimposed relation and arranged to form of them a vertical stack, means within the casing for moving inserted tickets to and into cooperative stacking relation with the receiver and thus to form in the receiver a vertical stack of superimposed tickets, releasable. means for blocking the receiver and thus locking the stack to the receiver, thus to prevent unauthorized removal of a stack from the receiver and formed as part of and unitary with the receiver so as to be removable from and insertable into the casing only as part of the receiver as a whole, and releasable key means movably mounted in the casing and externally accessible for actuation and associated with the ticket moving means and the receiver blocking means and operable for simultaneously moving the blocking means from blocking position and for conditioning the ticket moving means for ticket moving, and also operable for moving the blocking means to blocking position and conditioning the ticket moving means out of or against ticket moving operation.

4. In a ticket collecting and stacking machine comprising a casing having a ticket receiving opening, means inside the casing for receiving ticketsinserted through said opening in superimposed relation and arranged to form of them a vertical stack, means within the casing for moving inserted tickets to and into cooperative stacking relation with the receiver and thus to form in the receiver a vertical stack of superimposed tickets and key means movably mounted in the casing and externally accessible for actuation and associated with the receiver and ticket moving means and operable for simultaneously looking a properly mounted and authorized receiver in place under the ticket moving means and also conditioning the ticket moving means for ticket moving operation and also operable for simultaneously releasing the receiver for removal from the casing and conditioning the ticket moving means against or out of ticket moving operation.

5. In a ticket collecting and stacking machine comprising a casing having a ticket receiving opening, means inside the casing for receiving tickets inserted through said opening in superimposed relation and arranged to form of them a vertical stack, means within the casing for moving inserted tickets to and into cooperative stacking relation with the receiver and thus to form in the receiver a vertical stack of superimposed tickets, releasable means for blocking the receiver and thus locking the stack to the receiver thus to prevent unauthorized removal of a stack from the receiver and formed as part of and unitary with the receiver so as to be removable from and insertable into the casing only as part of the receiver as a whole, and releasable key means movably mounted in the casing and externally accessible for actuation and associated with the receiver and the ticket moving means and the receiver blocking means and operable for simultaneously looking a properly mounted and authorized receiver in place under the ticket moving means and for moving the blocking means from receiver blocking position and for conditioning the ticket moving means for ticket moving and also operable for simultaneously releasing the receiver for removal thereof from the casing and moving the blocking means to receiver blocking position and for conditioning the ticket moving means out of or against ticket moving operation.

6. In a ticket collecting and stacking machine comprising a casing having a ticket receiving opening, means inside the casing for receiving tickets inserted through said opening in superimposed relation and arranged to form of them a vertical stack, means within the casing for 10 moving inserted tickets to and into cooperative stacking relation with the receiver and thus to form in the receiver a vertical stack of superimposed tickets, a follower vertically slidable lengthwise of said receiver for supporting a stack of tickets and for moving downwardly as the stack increases in length with an increase in the number of tickets, means for actuating the ticket moving means, and means for inhibiting actuation of the ticket moving means and positioned to be engaged by the follower when the latter is in its lowermost position and thus conditioned for deactivating the ticket moving means.

7. A receiver for a stack of superimposed tickets comprising an elongated tube having a cover on its upper end, a lock for said cover, a slidable bottom in said tube on top of which the tickets are stacked in the tube, and means to block or prevent the slidable bottom from moving out of the lower end of the tube, said means having an opening to permit a plunger projecting through said opening upwardly into the lower end of the tube to be engaged by the slidable bottom when the latter is moved down to the lower end of the tube by a stack of tickets, and a control switch operatively connected to said plunger and whose condition is altered by engagement of the plunger by the slidable bottom.

8. A receiver for a stack of superimposed tickets comprising an elongated tube having a cover on its upper end, a lock for said cover, the cover being a horizontally sliding cover, and the lock including a barrel on a horizontal axis beneath the cover and mounted in a bulge at one side of the tube, and means operatively connecting the barrel and cover, whereby barrel rotation on a horizontal axis will cause the cover to slide horizontally.

9. A receiver for a stack of superimposed tickets comprising an elongated tube having a cover on its upper end, a lock for said cover, and means at the upper end of the tube independent of said cover for inhibiting tickets thrust into the tube from accidentally moving out of the upper end of the tube due to decompression forces even when the cover is open, said means being constructed to permit a stack of the tickets to be pushed up and out of said receiver, past the means, by a force exerted against the lower end of the stack, superior to the decompression force insuificient to overcome said means.

MILTON H. LONDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 776,995 Gorin Aug. 9, 1904 1,625,170 Tanner Apr. 19, 1927 1,963,263 Demetrakopoulos June 19, 1934 2,000,159 Bolognino May 7, 1935 2,071,123 Hubermeyer Feb. 16, 1937 2,072,318 Staude Mar. 2, 1937 2,144,564 Portman-Dixon Jan. 17, 1939 2,277,916 Klemt Mar. 31, 1942 2,345,291 Rose Mar. 28, 1944 2,452,022 Weingart, et al. Oct. 19, 1948 2,465,146 Broussard Mar. 22, 1949 2,511,431 Dashkin June 13, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,907 Great Britain May 13, 1885 

